Very frustrated by latent phase of labour... reassurance needed!

[TheSecretCervix]

Sorry this is long, needed to get it off my chest!:

I am 41+1 and had a sweep on Tuesday, I started to feel pains in my lower back and stomach almost immediately. At around 9pm I began to have strong contractions roughly every 5-6 minutes, so the hospital asked me to come in. The midwife said I was 1cm dilated since sweep and 70% effaced and said that hopefully, if it carried on progressing like this I could expect to be back within 5-6 hours ready for active labour (obviously I know it's not an exact science!) and to come back when they became stronger.
So we went home thinking that we would be back at some point soonish. Anyways, the contractions died down over night on Tuesday but I continued to have contractions, just not with a regular pattern. This carried on into Wednesday and yesterday I lost the rest of my mucus plug (yummy!). Since last night I've had dragging back pain and sporadic contractions.
I am starting to feel very frustrated and also like I am loosing my nerve for the actual labour as I keep wondering, 'Is this it?' for it to all die down. I've been trying to keep busy and do normalish things (along withy every labour encouragement under the sun! You name it I've tried it.) but I'm starting to feel really drained by it.
I was just wondering if anyone else has experience a prolonged latent phase? Positive stories of it following a short active labour would be nice :) I guess, probably naively, I thought that once it all started it would have some progression and not be this stop start! I feel like I am going to be pregnant FOREVER!

[LyraBelaqua]

Hi

Hope you are ok. Just read your post and really feel for you. My latent phase of labour was quite long and really miserable because I had no regularity to the whole thing until my waters went, a good 48 hours after the pain started. You will get through it though so dont worry you will NOT be pregnant much longer and when you meet your baby it is all worth it. After my fairly long latent phase my DD was born within 6.5 hours so quite short.

Hope it all kicks off properly soon if it hasn't already :)

[ParkerRocks]

I had a long latent phase and it took 2 sweeps and loads of walking and bouncing on my birthing ball before things really kicked off! At 41 weeks I went on to have a lovely short 7 hour labour and with 3 pushes DD was born! Good luck, it won't be long before you have your LO here!

[TheSecretCervix]

Thank you for your messages. Good to hear positive outcomes after longer latent phases. Had some good advice on the childbirth thread about relaxing - so going to try my best to ;)

I'll keep you posted but keep your fingers crossed for me! x